Harvesting mechanism



Aug. 1, 1944. R. DIXON 2,354,986

HARVESTING MECHANISM Filed May 24, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet '1 Inventor R. DIXON HARVESTING MECHANISM Filed May 24, 1943 I Aug. 1, 1944.

:5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor W 5 Attorney:

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R. DIXON HARVESTING MECHANISM- Aug. 1, 1944.

Filed May 24, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w %m Im m A WM u n u u u v\ D D D. .U D D n n a D N\ MM \Q MN mm Inventor W I I I; my I. lttorzey;

Passed Aug. 1, 1944 mvasmd smonsmsu Ralph Dixon,' New Rochelle, N. Y. Application M8! 24, 1943, S61!!! N0. 488,231 Claims- (01. 50-157) My invention relates to improvements in barvesting mechanism for use especially, although not necessarily, in harvesting dried beans.

Among the important objects in vieware to provide a simply constructed, efficient mechanism designed to be propelled over the ground as an attachment to a tractor, combine reaper,

or the like, and for power operation to lift and straighten up bean vines, maintain the same straight as the mechanism is propelled along rows of bean vines, cut off the vines above the ground, and convey the cuttings rearwardly for disposal as desired in a suitable receptacle or the like.

Another object is to provide mechanism of the character and for the purposes above set forth which is especially designed for eflicient operation in fields in which the ground is uneven, adapted for operation from a power take-ofl of a tractor, combine reaper, or other agricultural machine, and which operates to gradually lift and straighten up the vines to thereby obviate mutilating the same.

Other and subordinate objects are also compreliended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improveslot I in the vertical plane of the skid extending substantially from end to end thereof, and

ments and the advantages thereof, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and. forming part of this specification.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a view in top plan of my improved harvesting mechanism attached to a tractor,

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the harvesting mechanism detached,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the harvesting mechanism drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 4 is a view in vertical longitudinal sec-- tion taken on the line H of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a view in vertical transverse sectiontakenonthelinei-Iofl'iguredanddrawn to a further enlarged scale, and

I'lgureGisaviewintransversesectiontaken onthelineHofFlgureflanddrawntoastill further enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the

primary elements of my improved mechanism are a pair of opposed, elongated front lifting and straightening units I, 2, respectively, inclining upwardly and rearwardly and converging rear-,

wardiv, relatively, each unit, which is a counterpart of'the other. comprising a beam-like skid, orrunner, I, having abeveled front end 4 designed to slide over the ground, a longitudinal a longitudinally extending central slot in one side of the same. Each skid I carries a pair of front and rear sprocket wheels 1. 8 in the front and rear ends of the slot I rotatable about transverse shafts l, and a sprocket chain Ill trained around the pair of sprocket wheels with an upper run arranged slightly above the top ofthe skid parallel with said top. The sprocket chains II are designed to be driven so that the upper runs thereof travel rearwardly as the units are propelled forwardly along opposite sides of a row of vines, and to pick up the branches of the vines, progressively lift the same up so that the vines may be gripped-below the tops thereof by a pair of conveyor chains II, II, and then cut oil by a rotary cutter l8, and subsequently conveyed by said chains II, If rearwardly of the mechanism.

In the illustrative adaptation of the invention, said units I, 2 are mounted, as presently described, at the front end of a. table-like flat bed It with their rear ends overlying said front and upon opposite sides of a slot is in the bed extending rearwardly from the front end of the bed in the longitudinal center thereof for a distance sufficient to-permit the vines to pass by the rotary cutter II which has the form of a saw-toothed, beveled edge disk mounted adjacent the front end of the bed I at one side thereof on a stud shaft i6 depending from the bed, the

cutter extending across the slot I! as best shown in F gure 3.

. The lifting and straightening units l, 2, are mounted on said bed ll by means of a pair of brackets II, II bolted to the bed, as at J8, and

extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom, said brackets having right angled, upper edge T-fianges 2| extending through the side slots I of the skids 3, respectively, and serving as guides upon which said units I ,2 are endwise slidable rearwardly and upwardly when the skids 3 are being propelled over uneven ground surfaces and. are obstructed by such surfaces, or tend to dig into the same, to thereby obviate the breaking of the skids.

The pair of conveyor chains II, If are arranged on top of the bed I upon opposite sides of the longitudinai'center of the bed to provide opposed inner runs 2| spaced apart parallel with said center at opposite sides of the slot ll. Each sprocket chain II, I! is trained around a pairoffront andrearsprocket wheelsfl, 23 fast upon uprlght'front and rear shafts 24, ll,

respectively, suitably journaled in the bed I4. The conveyor chains II, I2, are designed to be driven in unison in directions such that the inner runs thereof travel rearwardly at the same rate of speed. For this purpose, the shafts 25 of the rear sprocket wheels 22 are geared together beneath the bed by means of a pair of like, meshing gears 26, 21 fast on the lower ends of said shaft 25, respectively, and one of which is designed to be power driven, for instance the gear 26.

For driving the sprocket chains I. of the lifting and straightening units I, 2, a pair of horizontal driven shafts 28, 29 are joumaled in side bearings III, 3| on the brackets II, II, respectively, to extend crosswise of said units beneath the chains III, in the rear of said brackets II, II, and said shafts are equipped with sprocket wheels 22, 33, engaging the bottom runs of said chains III, respectively. A transverse shaft 34 is joumaled in bearings, as at 25, on the bed I4 to extend beneath said bed. Belt and pulley connections 36, 31 are provided between opposite ends of the shaft 34 and the outer ends of the shafts 28, 29 respectively. The shaft 24 is driven from the power driven gear 26 by a sprocket and chain connection 38 from the hub of the gear 26 to a beveled gear 3! rotatably mounted beneath the bed I4, at one side thereof, on a suitable shaft 40 depending from said bed, said gear 39 meshing with a suitable beveled gear 4I fast on said shaft 34. It may be explained-that because of the convergence of the units I, 2, the sprocket chains I I incline laterally, slightly, across the tops of the sprocket wheels 32, 33, but, in actual practice may bemade wide enough, relative to the width of the teeth of said wheels, and with links sufficiently long, so that the teeth of said wheels 22, 33 will enter the links notwithstanding such lateral inclination of said chains.

The cutter I3 (illustrated) is rotated inthe proper direction, i. e, counter-clockwise as viewed in Figures 1 and 3, as indicated by the arrow a, by means of a sprocket and chain connection 42 arranged beneath the bed I4 for operation by the sprocket and chain connections 38.

By way of exempliflcation, only, the described harvesting mechanism has been shown as attached to a tractor 43 to be propelled alongside the same over the groimd and otherwise operits front end journaled in a bearing bracket 54 suitably attached to said tractor. The front end of the shaft 52 is operatively connected, by a universal joint 55, to a forwardly extending shaft Bl journaled in a bearing bracket .51 depending from the bed I4 and operatively connected in any suitable manner to the gear 28 by beveled gears 58, 59, respectively. If desired, a suitable guard, in theform of a downwardly bowed bar 60, may be provided on the under side of the bed l4 to extend beneath and prevent fouling of the cutter I3.

As will now be seen, as the described harvesting mechanism is propelled forwardly over the field or ground, the lifting or straightening units I, 2 will guide the vines to the conveyor chains II, I2 and cutter II with the vines straightened up and the tops lifted so that said vines may be cut off by the cutter I3 and gripped by the inner runs of said conveyor chains to be carried thereby to the rear of the mechanism for deposit in a storage receptacle or other container, or otherwise as occasion may require. The conveyor chains II, l2 will grip the cut-off vines between the inner runs 2I thereof, at first with the vines substantially upright, and transport the vines upright rearwardly through the slot I5. After the slot I5 is passed, the vines will be dragged by said runs of the chains, between the same, rearwardly over the bed I4 and ejected rearwardly thereby off said bed. Any suitable receptacle, not shown, may be attached to the rear end of the bed I4 to catch the ejected vines.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suflice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification both as regards structure and arrangement of parts, without departing from the inventive concept, and right is I herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the cope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A bean harvesting mechanism comprising an elongated support adapted to be propelled endwise along a row of bean vines, vine lifting and straightening means at the leading end of said support comprising a pair of opposed elonated bysaid tractor. Asillustratedinfigure 1, 7

a pusher bar 44 extending rearwardly from the rear end of thebed l4 inthelongitudinai center thereofisconnectedatitsrearendtoarear chassis bar 45 of the tractor by a universal joint nism may ride over imeven groimd, and a pair of V-shaped rimners 41 are provided on the front end of the bed I4 upon opposite sides thereof to support said bed at the front end thereof in forwardly and downwardly inclined position. To maintain the harvesting mechanism parallel with the path of travel of the tractor 43, a tie rod 48 is extended from the tractor 43 laterally and connected, by a imiversal joint 4!, to the bed I4 adjacent the front end thereof.

Adrivefromtheusualrearendpowertakeof! shaft SI of the tractor 4.3 to the power-driven gear 2 is provided in'the form of a belt and pulley connection 5| between said shaft 5. and a longitudinal shaft 52 journaled at its rear end inabearingiionthechassisbaruandhaving gated beam-like skids inclining upwardly and rearwardly in relatively converging relation from the ground and having front ends slidable over the ground, a pair of endless vine pick-up link chains embodied in said skids, respectively, and having top runs operative rearwardly along and above said skids, means to mount said skids on. said leading end of the support for endwise adjustment when sliding over uneven ground, a rotary cutter on the underside of said support adjacent said leading end thereof operative for cutting oi! the vines straightened up by said units,

means on said support operative to convey the cut vines rearwardly along said support, and driving mechanism for said pair of chains operative under operation of the last mentioned means.

2. A bean harvesting mechanism comprising an ellmgated support adapted to be propelled endwise along a mw of bean vines, vine lifting and stmightening means at the leading end of said support comprising a pair of opposed elongated beam-like skids inclining upwardly and rearwardly in relatively converging relation from the around and having front ends slidable over the ground, a pair of endless vine pick-up link chains embodied in said skids, respectively, and having top runs operative rearwardly along and 2,ss4,ssc l above said skids, means to mount said skids on said leading end of the support for endwise adjustment when sliding over uneven ground, a rotary cutter on the underside of said support adjacent said leading end thereof operative for cutting of! the vines straightened up by said units, means on said support operative to convey the cut vines rearwardly along said support, and

driving mechanism for said pair of chains operative under operation of the last mentioned means, said driving mechanism comprising a cross shaft on said support, a pair of sprocket wheels for operating said chains, respectively, and a pair of belt and pulley connections between opposite ends of said shaft and said sprocket wheels.

3. A bean harvesting mechanism comprising an elongated support adapted to be propelled endwise along a row of bean vines, vine lifting and straightening means at the leading end of said support comprising a pair of opposed elongated beam-like skids inclining upwardly and rearwardly in relatively converging relation from the ground and having front ends slidable over the ground, a pair of, endless vine pick-up link chains embodiedin said skids, respectively, and having top runs operative rearwardly along and above said skids, means to mount said skids on said leading end of the support for endwise adjustment when sliding over uneven ground, a rotary cutter on the underside of said support adjacent said leading end thereof operative for cutting off the vines straightened up by said units, means on said support operative to convey the cut vines rearwardly along said support, and driving mechmm for said pair of chains operative under operation of the last-mentioned means, the lastmentioned means comprising a pair of sprocket and chain units mounted on top of said support in a common horizontal plane and includinginguides, said skids having longitudinal guide ways ner runs opposed parallel upon opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the support in close together relation.

4. In a bean harvesting mechanism a pair of opposed vine pick-up and straightening units adapted to be propelled along a row of vines upon opposite sides thereof, respectively, comprising a pair of elongated beam-like skids having under beveled front ends adapted to slide over the ground, a, support, means to mount said skids on said support in upwardly and rearwardly inclined position and converging relation, said means comprising a pair of brackets having lateral edge therein in which said guides are slidably fitted whereby the skids are endwise adjustable when sliding over uneven ground.

5. In a bean harvesting mechanism a pair of opposed vine pick-up and straightening units adapted to be propelledalcng a row of vines upon opposite sides thereof, respectively, comprising a pair of elongated beam-like skids having under beveled front ends adapted to slide over the ground a support, means to mount said skids on said support in upwardly and rearwardly inclined position and converging relation, said means comprising a pair of brackets having lateral edge guides, said skids having longitudinal guide ways therein in which said guides are slidably fitted whereby the skids are endwise adjustable when sliding over uneven ground, a pair of endless vine pick-up and straightening link chains, em-

bodied in said skids respectively and having top runs operative rearwardly along and above said skids, and means to ,operate said chains including a pair of sprocket wheels mounted on said brackets, respectively, and engagin the lower runs of said chains respectively.

- RALPH DIXON. 

